Poseidon's Academy

Chapter 33. The Second Escape

'Yuck, I'm all wet again,' Demi whined, after an Erinys shoved them back down the hatch. 'When can we escape from this cesspool?'

'We just have to-' Alec began.

The hatch door creaked open and someone said, 'Kavvutwkarnakat.'

There was a flash, and then a shining orb zoomed down towards them.

Hailey leapt out of the way, but the orb paused a foot above her, where it floated like a dim light.

'I thought you may appreciate some light.'

Hailey's stomach twisted in knots when she saw who was peering down at them.

Persephone! She might not have been as cruel to them as Hades had been, but she was still a god, which meant Hailey would be stupid not to be afraid of her.

'Don't be frightened. I wish you no harm. On the contrary, I have come to escort you to more comfortable surroundings.'

'Are you taking us back to the Elysian Fields?' Demi asked eagerly.

Persephone shook her head. 'Hades refused to allow that. But I was able to sway him into allowing you back to the dungeon.' She flicked her hand at them.

Pink, red, yellow, and white wild flowers swirled around Hailey, engulfing her in a beautiful perfume before they vanished, leaving her standing in a dungeon cell with her friends. Persephone materialised outside the bars. 'It wasn't easy convincing him to allow you back here, but I assured him you wouldn't escape again. I beg you not to, as he will kill you.'

'Um, thanks for bringing us here,' Hailey said, not sure what else to say, and confused about why a god was helping them. Hailey had been taught her whole life that gods were all evil and despised humans. 'Why are you being nice to us?'

'I don't like seeing children suffer,' she replied simply.

Aaron curled his fingers around the bars. 'So let us go.'

'I wish I could, but Hades is right in saying you will spoil our plans if you go free, and I don't want anything to stop us from awakening the Olympians. I miss my mother, Demeter, terribly.' Persephone sighed. 'But I promise you, we will release you once they're awake.'

'And when will that be?' Jayden probed.

'Soon. Hades wishes to enjoy not having his brothers to contend with a little longer. I must go now. Sleep well.' Persephone dematerialised in a swirl of wild flowers.

'Well, that was... weird,' Demi said. 'She seems so nice.'

'Don't be fooled. She married Hades, so she's gotta be dark and twisty on the inside,' Aaron said. 'I guess we're back to our original plan.'

Demi patted Alec on the back. 'You're up, muscles.'

'Wait,' Hailey said. 'Dazatr.' She spoke the Goldarin word for open, thinking the barred door would slide across as it had when the Erinys had said the word.

The door didn't budge.

'It only works if you're standing on the outside,' Alec explained.

Hailey shrugged. 'Thought I'd give it a try.'

Alec stepped up to the bars. They let out a wailing groan as he wrenched them apart. One by one, Hailey and her friends squeezed through the gap and steered through the dungeon.

The other cells were now occupied, and Hailey felt horrible walking past the prisoners, especially knowing they were there because of her. But she couldn't free them yet. It was going to be hard enough for her and her friends to get out of the Underworld without being seen, let alone close to a thousand people.